farmall M voltage reg

Finnbair2020 · May 26, 2011

I'm working on my Farmall M, trying to get it to charge. If, after it is started, you press down on the points in the voltage regulator, they will stay down and the tractor will charge. If you do not press down on them, they do not go down and the tractor dos not charge. Is there a way to fix this, besides purchasing a new voltage regulator?

Second question-- has anyone seen a heat plug installed on the top of the block on a tractor like this? Haven't seen one in this location before but can't imagine what else it might be--

Janicholson · May 26, 2011

The contacts you are touching are the cutout relay set in the VR. If the generator is a three brush style, move the third brush all the way as close as possible to the fixed brush on that side. This will boost charge to get the relay to latch.
If it is not a 3 brush, try this. With the tractor at 3/4 throttle, and all wires connected, ground the F terminal on the generator with a jumper. If it now latches, the VR voltage relay might have dirty contacts.
The VR will not act correctly if the cover is off because it has an effect on the magnetism in the unit. Be sure to check operation only with the cover on.
If it still will not latch, and the generator puts out well when working I would reduce the spring pressure on the contacts you are pushing on. (this is not easy, it is touchy, and is responsible for opening those very contacts when the engine is idling, or stopped. Be sure the contacts open when the tractor is shut off or it will smoke the generator, and discharge the battery. Adjust just tiny increments. Jim

Bob · May 26, 2011

The first "block heaters" were, in fact "headbolt heaters".

From WIKI: "Andrew Freeman, a North Dakotan, invented the head bolt heater in 1947 and received a patent for it on November 8, 1949.[4][5] In 1951, Freeman received another patent on an improved head bolt heater.[6] These early heaters replaced one of the engine's cylinder head bolts with a hollow, threaded shank containing a resistive heating element."

Here's a photo of one for a Ford V-8 flathead...

<img src = "http://www.gondtc.com/~blweltin/Bob/Headbolt3.JPG">

My late Uncle was involved in the North Dakota REA at the time and knew Andy Freeman personally. You can't even IMAGINE what blessing the invention of the engine heater was to those of us who reside on the "tundra"!
WIKI Heater

55 50 Ron · May 26, 2011

Bob and others,

My first job out of college as an EE was for Minnkota Power Coop (an REA company) in Grand Forks, ND and Andrew Freeman was the top manager.
He was a wonderful boss and I talked with him occassionally. During the time I was there (1968-69) they built the big generating plant near Center, ND that was coal fired with lignite coal.

farmall M voltage reg

Finnbair2020

Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

55 50 Ron

Well-known Member

Similar threads